(Watson, Glamour Shot).
Beautiful blue bird day and great conditions, all though the sluff runnels were pretty pronouced by the late afternoon. My dad and I got a slightly later start than the Osgood trio, but I was able to catch up to them at the top of Left Gully for a nice warm up run. We then had lunch before Scott, Watson and I headed up Chute and cut over for a run down the Left Headwall. First time skiing in that area of the bowl and it was pretty fun working through some of the exposed boulders in the middle. Watson took the lead, and despite almost tumbling, managed to hang on and come out OK. His ovation from the crowd was one of the loudest of the day! We also found pictures of him on the Ski the East site, so we are now literally "famous internet skiers." Pretty exciting. Check out the second to last picture here for proof.
The day gave us a moment to pause after the second run though when two folks took rough falls down the Left Gully/Sluice area. One of them was not wearing a helmet and left behind a scary trail of blood. Dean Osgood, a first responder, was quick to get to the accident site and help carry the man down the mountain before he was airlifted out. We monitored the tuckerman discussion board in the weeks after the acccident and it appears the individual came out OK. The last shot in the video below is of the helicopter flying off to the Dartmouth hospital. Another reminder that no matter how nice out it is, how low the avalanche risk is, and how safe the crowd makes you feel, Tuckerman is a backcountry area and one small slip can have dire consequences. Wear a helmet, even on the hike up. I read a post once that wearing a helmet increases your risk of injury because it will cause your head to bounce off of rocks, creating whiplash. Sweet jesus. Just wear the helmet. I also bought an ice axe after this trip just to provide some additional leverage going up hill. You never know when someone is going to slide into you (a few close calls this weekend), so additional grip is never a bad thing.
Anyway, below are a few pictures and a great season ending video that prominently features Watson. Enjoy!
(Sitting on my rock of choice, contemplating the first hike of the day).
(Scott, Watson and I going up Chute, along with a few other folks in the conga line).
(Nice shot of the ravine).
(Dad, enjoying the hike).
(Me, before the second hike of the day, Wildcat in the background)
(Watson, enjoying a nice scratch from Scott).
Video Link. Enjoy!
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